Avery Books, a Penguin Random House nonfiction imprint focused on wellness and health, has acquired North American rights to The Book of Joy: Finding Enduring Happiness In an Uncertain World, a book that will be produced by the Dalai Lama and South African archbishop Desmond Tutu, in collaboration with Doug Abrams, who will conduct interviews and co-write the book.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Dalai Lama.

U.S. rights were acquired by Avery editor-in-chief Caroline Sutton in a deal brokered by Abrams of Idea Architects; the Mary Clemmey Literacy Agency sold U.K. and Commonwealth rights to Jocasta Hamilton at Hutchinson/Cornerstone/Penguin Random House.

The production of the book will feature an historic meeting between the two men, April 20-24, in Dharamsala, India that will also mark the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday and allow the two spiritual leaders to spend a week sharing their perspectives on the topic of joy. Indeed, in order to share this experience more broadly with the rest of the world, the two leaders will use their Facebook pages to let readers around the globe ask questions about the path to joy and a meaningful life.